area has the most congestion in the u.s. among the highlights in the report, on average motorists here lose 67 hours a year because of slow traffic costing the average regional commuter an extra $1,400 a year. both figures are significantly ahead of the time and costs of the next slowest regions, l.a., san francisco and new york. the data show freeway travel is particularly unreliable in the d.c. area and we also produce more carbon dioxide emissions per commuter than any other american city. is there hope for our future? maybe in virginia says aaa's lon anderson. >> they're right now working on express lanes on i-95. i think when those connect to the capital beltway express lanes that they've already built through tysons corner to springfield, we might see us lose that no. 1 status. i think there's that possibility. >> reporter: ron kirby who studies traffic at the metropolitan washington council of governments is not particularly optimistic about cutting local congestion. >> a lot of the problem is outside the beltway, you